Wealthier children score higher on intelligence, but quality parenting levels the playing field
Children from higher-income families show greater fluid intelligence, a new study finds. However, researchers discovered that increased parental time and positive parenting can effectively bridge this developmental gap, especially for disadvantaged youth.
The analysis of the TwinLIFE study data reveals that children from families of higher socioeconomic status tend to exhibit somewhat higher levels of intelligence, as well as increased emotional stability and extraversion compared to their peers from low socioeconomic status families. While these personality traits are often considered relatively stable, their development may be influenced by both inherited characteristics and the environments in which children grow up.
Parenting styles and the resources available to children can significantly impact these outcomes. The study, published in the Journal of Genetic Psychology, utilized data from the German Twin Family Panel (TwinLIFE), which collected information on twins and their families over a 12-year period. The research, conducted by study author Melchior Vella, aimed to test the hypothesis that higher socioeconomic status is associated with more favorable personality development and that parents of higher socioeconomic status might be more likely to practice positive parenting styles.
Brief written by urgent.news from PsyPost's own syndicated text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
